"Picture
yourself in the Southern most island of New
Zealand wandering under a stadium of stars
to try your luck at native kiwi spotting".
Stewart Island offers the best chance most
people will ever have to see New Zealand's
national bird, the kiwi, in its natural environment.
Rest assured not many New Zealanders can
make that claim.
Many centuries ago Maori came by canoe to
the island to harvest shellfish and mutton
birds, traditions still carried out today
by local iwi. They named the island Rakiura
- 'Land of the Glowing Skies' as it is renowned
for lingering summer sunsets and the Aurora
Australis or Southern Lights.
Our five day guided walk takes a nice loop
across Stewart Island. Starting in the southern town of Invercargill we travel to
Mason Bay on the West Coast of Stewart Island.
Then walk, water taxi and sea kayak our way
across the island to Halfmoon Bay. A visit
to the stunning open sanctuary Ulva Island
and some time to explore Halfmoon Bay before
flying back to the mainland at Invercargill.
To see a few short videos of the types of experiences you may have click here...
Stewart Island Brown Kiwi
- Apteryx Australis Lawyri
The Maori name is Tokoeka - "Weka with
a stick".
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